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KiCAD MCP Bot 319473b1d8 feat: Implement IPC backend for real-time UI synchronization 
Add KiCAD IPC API backend using kicad-python library for real-time
communication with KiCAD 9.0+. Changes now appear instantly in KiCAD
UI without manual reload.

Key changes:
- Implement IPCBackend and IPCBoardAPI classes for IPC communication
- Auto-detect IPC availability and fall back to SWIG when unavailable
- Route existing commands (route_trace, add_via, place_component, etc.)
  through IPC automatically when available
- Add transaction support for proper undo/redo
- Add socket path auto-detection for Linux (/tmp/kicad/api.sock)

New commands:
- get_backend_info: Check which backend is active

Supported IPC operations:
- Board: set_size, get_board_info, save
- Routing: route_trace, add_via, add_net
- Components: place, move, delete, list
- Text: add_text, add_board_text

SWIG backend is now deprecated and will be removed when KiCAD 10.0
drops SWIG support.

Requires: kicad-python>=0.5.0, KiCAD 9.0+ with IPC enabled

🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code)

Co-Authored-By: Claude <noreply@anthropic.com>
2025-11-30 14:33:27 -05:00

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KiCAD MCP Roadmap

Vision: Enable anyone to design professional PCBs through natural conversation with AI

Current Version: 2.1.0-alpha Target: 2.0.0 stable by end of Week 12

Week 2: Component Integration & Routing

Goal: Make the MCP server useful for real PCB design Status: 80% Complete (2025-11-01)

High Priority

1. Component Library Integration ✅ COMPLETE

  • Detect KiCAD footprint library paths
  • Add configuration for custom library paths
  • Create footprint search/autocomplete
  • Test component placement end-to-end
  • Document supported footprints

Deliverable: ✅ Place components with actual footprints from libraries (153 libraries discovered!)

2. Routing Operations ✅ COMPLETE

  • Test route_trace with KiCAD 9.0
  • Test add_via with KiCAD 9.0
  • Test add_copper_pour with KiCAD 9.0
  • Fix any API compatibility issues
  • Add routing examples to docs

Deliverable: ✅ Successfully route a simple board (tested with nets, traces, vias, copper pours)

3. JLCPCB Parts Database 📋 PLANNED

  • Research JLCPCB API and data format
  • Design integration architecture
  • Download/parse JLCPCB parts database (~108k parts)
  • Map parts to KiCAD footprints
  • Create search by part number
  • Add price/stock information
  • Integrate with component placement

Deliverable: "Add a 10k resistor (JLCPCB basic part)" - Ready to implement

Medium Priority

4. Fix get_board_info 🟡 DEFERRED

  • Update layer constants for KiCAD 9.0
  • Add backward compatibility
  • Test with real boards

Status: Low priority, workarounds available

5. Example Projects 🟢

  • LED blinker (555 timer)
  • Arduino Uno shield template
  • Raspberry Pi HAT template
  • Video tutorial of complete workflow

Bonus Achievements ✨

Real-time Collaboration ✅ COMPLETE

  • Test MCP→UI workflow (AI places, human sees)
  • Test UI→MCP workflow (human edits, AI reads)
  • Document best practices and limitations
  • Verify bidirectional sync works correctly

Documentation ✅ COMPLETE

  • LIBRARY_INTEGRATION.md (comprehensive library guide)
  • REALTIME_WORKFLOW.md (collaboration workflows)
  • JLCPCB_INTEGRATION_PLAN.md (implementation plan)

Week 3: IPC Backend & Real-time Updates

Goal: Eliminate manual reload - see changes instantly Status: 🟢 IMPLEMENTED (2025-11-30)

High Priority

1. IPC Connection ✅ COMPLETE

  • Establish socket connection to KiCAD
  • Handle connection errors gracefully
  • Auto-reconnect if KiCAD restarts
  • Fall back to SWIG if IPC unavailable

2. IPC Operations ✅ COMPLETE

  • Port project operations to IPC
  • Port board operations to IPC
  • Port component operations to IPC
  • Port routing operations to IPC

3. Real-time UI Updates ✅ COMPLETE

  • Changes appear instantly in UI
  • No reload prompt
  • Visual feedback within 100ms
  • Demo video showing real-time design

Deliverable: ✅ Design a board with live updates as Claude works

Medium Priority

4. Dual Backend Support ✅ COMPLETE

  • Auto-detect if IPC is available
  • Switch between SWIG/IPC seamlessly
  • Document when to use each
  • Performance comparison

Week 4-5: Smart BOM & Supplier Integration

Goal: Optimize component selection for cost and availability

1. Digikey Integration

  • API authentication
  • Part search by specs
  • Price/stock checking
  • Parametric search (e.g., "10k resistor, 0603, 1%")

2. Smart BOM Management

  • Auto-suggest component substitutions
  • Calculate total board cost
  • Check component availability
  • Generate purchase links

3. Cost Optimization

  • Suggest JLCPCB basic parts (free assembly)
  • Warn about expensive/obsolete parts
  • Batch component suggestions

Deliverable: "Design a low-cost LED driver under $5 BOM"

Week 6-7: Design Patterns & Templates

Goal: Accelerate common design tasks

1. Circuit Patterns Library

  • Voltage regulators (LDO, switching)
  • USB interfaces (USB-C, micro-USB)
  • Microcontroller circuits (ESP32, STM32, RP2040)
  • Power protection (reverse polarity, ESD)
  • Common interfaces (I2C, SPI, UART)

2. Board Templates

  • Arduino form factors (Uno, Nano, Mega)
  • Raspberry Pi HATs
  • Feather wings
  • Custom PCB shapes (badges, wearables)

3. Auto-routing Helpers

  • Suggest trace widths by current
  • Auto-create ground pours
  • Match differential pair lengths
  • Check impedance requirements

Deliverable: "Create an ESP32 dev board with USB-C"

Week 8-9: Guided Workflows & Education

Goal: Make PCB design accessible to beginners

1. Interactive Tutorials

  • First PCB (LED blinker)
  • Understanding layers and vias
  • Routing best practices
  • Design rule checking

2. Design Validation

  • Check for common mistakes
  • Suggest improvements
  • Explain DRC violations
  • Manufacturing feasibility check

3. Documentation Generation

  • Auto-generate assembly drawings
  • Create BOM spreadsheets
  • Export fabrication files
  • Generate user manual

Deliverable: Complete beginner-to-fabrication tutorial

Week 10-11: Advanced Features

Goal: Support complex professional designs

1. Multi-board Projects

  • Panel designs for manufacturing
  • Shared schematics across boards
  • Version management

2. High-speed Design

  • Impedance-controlled traces
  • Length matching for DDR/PCIe
  • Signal integrity analysis
  • Via stitching for EMI

3. Advanced Components

  • BGAs and fine-pitch packages
  • Flex PCB support
  • Rigid-flex designs

Week 12: Polish & Release

Goal: Production-ready v2.0 release

1. Performance

  • Optimize large board operations
  • Cache library searches
  • Parallel operations where possible

2. Testing

  • Unit tests for all commands
  • Integration tests for workflows
  • Test on Windows/macOS/Linux
  • Load testing with complex boards

3. Documentation

  • Complete API reference
  • Video tutorial series
  • Blog post/announcement
  • Example project gallery

4. Community

  • Contribution guidelines
  • Plugin system for custom tools
  • Discord/forum for support

Deliverable: KiCAD MCP v2.0 stable release

Future (Post-v2.0)

Big Ideas for v3.0+

1. AI-Powered Design

  • Generate circuits from specifications
  • Optimize layouts for size/cost/performance
  • Suggest alternative designs
  • Learn from user preferences

2. Collaboration

  • Multi-user design sessions
  • Design reviews and comments
  • Version control integration (Git)
  • Share design patterns

3. Manufacturing Integration

  • Direct order to PCB fabs
  • Assembly service integration
  • Track order status
  • Automated quoting

4. Simulation

  • SPICE integration for circuit sim
  • Thermal simulation
  • Signal integrity
  • Power integrity

5. Extended Platform Support

  • Altium import/export
  • Eagle compatibility
  • EasyEDA integration
  • Web-based viewer

Success Metrics

v2.0 Release Criteria:

  • 95%+ of commands working reliably
  • Component placement with 10,000+ footprints
  • IPC backend working on all platforms
  • 10+ example projects
  • 5+ video tutorials
  • 100+ GitHub stars
  • 10+ community contributors

User Success Stories:

  • "Designed my first PCB with Claude Code in 30 minutes"
  • "Cut PCB design time by 80% using MCP"
  • "Got my board manufactured - it works!"

How to Contribute

See the roadmap and want to help?

High-value contributions:

  1. Component library mappings (JLCPCB → KiCAD)
  2. Design pattern library (circuits you use often)
  3. Testing on Windows/macOS
  4. Documentation and tutorials
  5. Bug reports with reproductions

Check CONTRIBUTING.md for details.

Last Updated: 2025-11-30 Maintained by: KiCAD MCP Team

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